Chinese musical instrument ensemble

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Gang-a-tsui is a ''nanguan'' music ensemble from Taiwan. It was formed in 1993 by Chou Yih-chang, and in 1997 it received a commission by the National Center for Traditional Arts in Taiwan as part of the Nanguan Opera Transmission Project. The ensemble has toured Japan, Korea, Indonesia, France, Poland and Mexico, and toured the US in 2003. They also toured the US in 2007.

Discography

Twelve Girls Band is a music women artists group who started with twelve members but later become thirteen, that use traditional s to play both traditional Chinese and songs. Formed on June 18, 2001, the women were selected by audition from more than 4,000 contestants. Each woman is classically-trained, and the band members come from various conservatories in the People's Republic of China , including the China Academy of Music, the Chinese National Orchestra, and the Central Conservatory of Music.

History

Chinese numerology gave Wang Xiao-Jing the idea for the ''Twelve Girls Band''. When the "father of Chinese rock music" decided he wanted to create a woman ensemble, he knew it needed 12 members. Per Chinese mythology it is the twelve jinchai representing womanhood. The twelve women that Xiao-Jing assembled were experienced musicians from the People's Republic of China's orchestras, played ancient Chinese instruments, and all were in their twenties. For the new project, the women were inspired by the art of the Yue Fang, the ensembles who played in the Tang Dynasty courts during the years A.D. 618 to 907.

The group debuted their modern compositions on ancient instruments in China and Japan during the Northern summer of 2003. Word of mouth spread, show after show were sold-out, and in Japan their debut album topped the charts for 30 weeks. Their self-titled debut was released in North America in August 2004 with cover versions of Coldplay's "Clocks" and Enya's "Only Time" included, and a massive television advertising campaign announcing the group's arrival.

Among the instruments used by the women: erhu , pipa , guzheng , yangqin , dizi , and . Occasionally, the duxianqin and hulusi are employed.

Performances

In July 2003, ''Beautiful Energy,'' the Twelve Girls Band's first album in Japan, reached the top of the J-pop chart. They won Japan Gold Disc Award in 2004.

Twelve Girls Band toured in the United States in 2004 ''Miracles'' tour and again in 2005.

July 7, 2007 Twelve Girls Band performed at the of Live Earth in Shanghai.

Soprano, Giorgia Fumanti, will be performing with the group in October and November 2007, on their North American tour. The tour will travel to the Midwest USA , and the East and West Coast areas of the USA and Canada.

Members

*Playing the guzheng, .
*Playing the yangqin, Ma Jingjing and Yang Songmei .
*Playing the pipa, Zhang Kun , Zhong Bao , and Shi Juan .
*Playing the erhu, Lei Ying , , Yin Yan , Sun Ting , and Zhan Lijun .
*Playing , Liao Bingqu and Sun Yuan .
*Zhan Lijun joined the group in 2003, bringing the total number of women to thirteen, but the original name was retained.

Video

'''The Hsu-nami is an Progressive rock instrumental band from the United States. The Hsu-nami defines East meets West and has become the first Er-hu Rock Group in America. Their music features a rare contribution fusion of different genres, incorporating the use of an ''erhu'', a two-string bowed instrument that is often used in Chinese classical music and folk ensembles.

The Hsu-nami plays a variety of rock sub-styles including metal, psychedelic, prog rock, and funk. An amplified ''erhu'' takes the place of lead vocals.

History

The group was formed in 2005 in Mahwah, New Jersey by Jack Hsu, Brent Bergholm, Vinny Belcastro, Derril Sellers, and John Manna. The members met in the musical circle of Ramapo College, with Adam Toth joining the band shortly after. Their music consists of East-meets-West with influences of Chinese traditional music and the Western modern influence of hard rock.

On January 7, 2008, Vinny Belcastro resigned as a member of Hsu-nami - he has since formed a new band "Trust".

On May 28, 2008, the band announced their new member Tony Aichele .

The group has performed with major acts such as Yellowcard, ChthoniC, Nightmare of You, The Parlor Mob, World Leader Pretend, and Jet Lag Gemini.

They have performed for numerous festivals/conventions, including the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Festival, and the Passport 2 Taiwan Festival. both held at Union Square NYC. The Hsu-nami has played conventions in Pittsburg , Columbus, Ohio , and the Philadelphia area .

The group has headlined many clubs/venues such as the Stone Pony, NJ, the Mexicali Blues Cafe, New Jersey, Highline Ballroom New York, Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Long Island New York, the Trocadero Theatre, Pennsylvania and the closing nights at CBGB in New York City.

Also performed for organization such as Ronald McDonald House, Asian Film Festival

25 May 2008 -- The band announced their music is to be featured in the 2008 Summer Olympic in Beijing. Their music will be played at the basketball arena during walk-in, timeouts, halftime, and incorporated into a dunker or martial arts routine for one of the entertainment groups.

''Entering the Mandala''

The band Released their first album "Entering the Mandala", named after the closing track fo the CD. The song was inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist belief of reaching the highest level of enlightenment.
The first track of the CD, Titled "Rising of the Sun" is representing the Beijing Olympics 2008 Chinese Basketball Team.

Jim Beckerman from The Bergen Record has written a feature 08/10/08 in regard to the Hsu-nami music feature in the Beijing Summer Olympics. The story got picked up by associate press, Hsu-nami instantly received national coverage from media outlets such as, WCBS 880, 1010 wins, Fort Mill Times, NJ.com, Philly.com, redorbit.com, spokesmanreview.com, NBC sports, USA Today, International Herald Tribune .

Since Hsu-nami's Music represented the Chinese basketball team and Front man Jack Hsu is Taiwanese-American, the Taiwan Organization in New York did not warmly congratulate the band for its success. This is because the global political issue of conflict between Taiwan and China regards to violating IOC rules and calling Taiwan "Taipei, China". They believe China oppresses the Taiwanese people, Tibet and many others.

The band emphasizes a positive relationship and goodwill between America and Taiwan and strives to phase away the issues involving China and Taiwan.

Members

Current

Former

*Vinny Belcastro
*Adam Toth

Discography

Singles and compilations

*In 2006, the band released the single "Rogue Wave," on the Po Records ComPOlation Volume III a Ramapo College Based Record Label.
*In 2007 the band released single, "Mimosa," on the Po Records ComPOlation Volume IV.
*In 2008 the band released single, "Entering The Mandala" on the Po Records ComPOlation Volume V.

Albums

*On November 30, 2007 the band released their debut album, ''Entering the Mandala''.

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra.

As the flagship of local performing arts groups, the SCO has the patronage of Lee Hsien Loong. It is located at the Singapore Conference Hall since 2001 after the revamp of the building. Under the baton of music director Tsung Yeh, the 70-strong orchestra aspires to introduce Chinese orchestral music to an ever-broadening audience.

With its aim in becoming a people’s orchestra, SCO has reached out through its Community Series concerts at the heartlands, Arts Education Programmes at schools and Outdoor Concerts at National Parks. In 2004, it launched its Caring and MusiCARE Series to bring Chinese orchestral music to the less privileged.

To develop Singaporean talents, the Orchestra began its Arranger-In-Residence and Conducting Assistant programmes in 2003. The former is to recognise the efforts of its local musicians who have actively been rearranging a number of works for the Orchestra, while the latter is a conducting mentorship for prospective local musicians. It has also set up a youth wing orchestra, the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra in 2003 to nurture young music talents into professional musicians.

History

Formerly a performing unit of the People's Association Cultural Troupe, the Orchestra was inaugurated in 1996 at the initiative of the then- Goh Chok Tong. This inception has been instrumental to the Orchestra’s elevation in its artistic pursuits, warranting it a national orchestra.

Performances

Aside from its regular concerts, the orchestra performed a symphonic fantasy epic, Marco Polo and Princess Blue, as part of the Opening Festival of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in November 2002. This work featured not only the orchestra but also a chorus performing in and . A year later, the orchestra staged a musical and visual conversation with Singapore’s most celebrated multi-disciplinary artist, Mr Tan Swie Hian, at the 2003 Singapore Arts Festival. It was also invited for performances at the World Economic Forum in October and the International Summit of Arts Council in November 2003. In 2004, SCO celebrated the 39th National Day of Singapore by staging a concert featuring over 2300 performers titled "SCO National Day Concert – Our People, Our Music" at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Recently, SCO produced a mega musical production Admiral Zheng He as part of the 2005 Singapore Arts Festival 2005. SCO also embarked on its very first Europe Concert Tour to Budapest, London and the same year.

Patron & Board Of Directors

Patron: Mr Lee Hsien Loong,

List of musicians

Music Director

Maestro Tsung Yeh joined SCO as Music Director in January 2002. Under Yeh's vision, SCO's repertoire has undergone rapid expansion. He is credited with initiating and designing successful productions such as Marco Polo and Princess Blue, Instant is a Millennium and The Grandeur of Tang.

Yeh's persistence and hard work on the orchestra's performance quality has produced audible results in rhythm, tone quality, dynamic range and musicality. SCO successfully toured under Yeh's baton to Europe in March & April 2005 for concerts at Barbican Center in London, The Sage Gateshead in New Castle and the Budapest Spring Festival.

Tsung Yeh is also the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the United States and the Conductor Laureate in the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He is the first conductor to be appointed as the Music Director of both the Chinese orchestra and the Symphony orchestra simultaneously.

Assistant Conductor

Quek Ling Kiong, a young and renowned homegrown percussionist and orchestra conductor, joined SCO in 1997. He is currently the Assistant Conductor of SCO and Conductor for the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra. In 2002, Quek received the Young Artist Award presented by the .

During his appointment as the Assistant Conductor for SCO, he conducted School Concerts Series for all levels of audience ranging from Primary to Universities. His specialty of hosting and conducting educational programmes include the Young Children’s Concerts, Young People’s Concerts and Outdoor and Community Series Concerts, are highly acclaimed by audiences. Quek has his debut with SCO at the Esplanade Concert Hall in 2005 WASBE Opening Concert where he received a standing ovation from international audiences.

Quek Ling Kiong is now on study leave to pursue a postgraduate in conducting.

Acting Assistant Conductor

The Current Acting Assistant Conductor of SCO is Yao Shen Shen. Born in 1982, Yao started learning the Erhu from the age of 4 years old from Professor Wang Yong De. He started learning the piano from 5 years old from Professor Wu Le Yi. Yao entered the Affiliated Primary School of Shanghai Conservatory to learn the erhu in 1992 and subsequently entered the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1995. He won the first place in the Erhu audition to Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2001 where he majored in both Erhu and conducting. He conducted the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music’s Chinese orchestra and a Japanese choir in a concert on 2005. Upon graduating, he gained admittance into the Shanghai National Music Orchestra in 2006 and is currently the Erhu musician and Assistant Conductor. In October 2006, Yao conducted the Shanghai Changning District Experimental Primary School’s Chinese orchestra in a competition and was awarded the first prize. In February 2007, he conducted the Shanghai Yan’an Middle School’s Chinese orchestra in a competition and won the gold prize.

Music Director

Tsung Yeh

Assistant Conductor

Quek Ling Kiong

Acting Assistant COnductor

Yao Shen Shen

Instrumental musicians

Other musical positions

''All musicians’ names are listed according to alphabetical order.''

Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra

The Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra , or SYCO , is the youth section of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra . SYCO has produced the finest musicians and composers in the local and international music scene.

SYCO recently staged its third annual concert on June 10, 2006 which saw the entire auditorium fully packed. In September 2006, the "Beautiful Sunday" Concert Series presented yet another breakthrough with SYCO making its debut at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay .

In July 2006, 11 SYCO members, together with former conductor Quek Ling Kiong, travelled to Taiwan to participate in the Tainan International ChiShi Art Festival. At the same time, another 5 members successfully auditioned for and attended the Hong Kong Youth Music Camp conducted by Professor Xia Fei Yun.

SYCO gives talented young musicians the chance to work with some of the best music talents in the SCO and experience high quality professional music education and training. Through the training, SYCO hopes to inspire and nurture potential talents and groom them to be the future pillars of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

History

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra had envisaged setting up a youth Chinese orchestra that is affiliated to SCO years ago. This idea was initiated by the SCO Chairman, Mr Chew Keng Juea. The SYCO was formerly formed under the auspices of Ministry of Education ECAC in 1969. The Orchestra was subsequently under the care of Young Musicians' Society in 1980 when YMS became self-supporting. SCO formerly took over the management of SYCO in June 2003.

Maestro Tsung Yeh is currently also the Music Director of SCO, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the United States, Principal Conductor of the Beijing Huaxia Chamber Ensemble and Conductor Laureate in the Hong Kong Sinfonietta . He is also a frequent guest conductor for many orchestras around the world.

With growing reputation in the conducting teaching field, he has been one of the Artistic Directors of the Symphony Workshop Ltd in the Czech Republic since 1992, and has also taught the "Conductors' Guild Workshop in Chicago". He is also the master teacher of the International Conductors’ Workshop for contemporary music in Zürich since 1997.

Quek Ling Kiong , a young and renowned homegrown percussionist and orchestra conductor, joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 1997. He is currently the Assistant Conductor of SCO and Conductor of SYCO. In 2002, Quek received the Young Artist Award presented by the National Arts Council .

Quek has been actively involved in his school’s Chinese orchestra as a percussionist. In 1982, he joined the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Chinese Orchestra to further his learning on percussion instruments. In 1994, under the encouragement of his teacher, Singapore Cultural Medallion recipient and renowned local conductor Mr Tay Teow Kiat , he furthered his studies in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music . In the same year, he was awarded the scholarship from the NAC, Lee Foundation and Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan , and continued his degree in the conservatory. Upon graduation in 1997, he joined the SCO.

During his appointment as the Assistant Conductor for SCO, he conducted School Concerts Series for all levels of audience ranging from Primary to Universities. His specialty of hosting and conducting educational programmes include the Young Children’s Concerts, Young People’s Concerts and Outdoor and Community Series Concerts, are highly acclaimed by audiences.

Resident Conductor

Ku Pao-Wen graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts, majoring in conducting from the University of South Carolina . He was also the Assistant Professor in the Tainan National University of the Arts Department of Chinese Music.

The National Chinese Orchestra, Taiwan is a modern large Chinese orchestra of traditional instruments based in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. It was established in 1984 as National Art School Experimental Chinese Orchestra and renamed in 2006. It comprises 93 people and take responsibility of collecting, researching, performing, recording, and publishing the traditional music in Taiwan. The NCO is now an officially government institute. The first music director has been Yi-jen Wen since 2008.